The Image staff muses on the culture of keeping up appearances

Everything old is new again. Customized clothes by Amal Guessous

January 22, 2009 | 5:07
pm

It will be interesting to see how people who have reigned in their spending will resuscitate pieces in their wardrobes to make them feel fresh and exciting.

L.A.-based designer Amal Guessous is customizing old clothes and accessories for people who want to feel like they’ve got new duds. He has been jazzing up everything from jeans to bags in his Melrose Avenue store and will apparently adorn Ugg Boots, Birkin Bags and American Apparel T’s with Swarovski crystals, crosses and fleur-de-lis.

Custom designs start at $45.

A word of advice: If you’ve got a Birkin and you’re tired of the way it looks -- crystal crosses are not going to make it better. Trust me.

Your initials on a T-shirt or the pocket of an old pair of jeans -- fine. Leave the Hermes at home where it belongs.

My plans for a customized spring wardrobe? A bathtub and a bottle of $3.99 Rit dye.